National Republican., 1887-05-24
COLLISION OF THE STEAMERS
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS OF THE
AWFUL CRASH AT SEA.
Interesting Descriptions OF the Scenes
on Board just Preceding and Sub
sequent TO the Collision OF tho
Britannia and Celtic.

this morning that, as far as known, but
four Of the steerago passengers killed in the
collision between the Celtic and Britannia
Robinson, 10 yeas old, of Fall River, Mass,
and James TimDury, Of Jersey City, were
known to be killed outright. Two passen-
gers, james Greenale and Adam johnson,
addresses unknown, are missing and sup
posed to belong TO the four who were buried
at sea. Some of the passengers insist that
in addition to this number, fleshy woman,
with black hair, was also killed and given
sea burial. The Official list Of the injured In
clude Elizabeth Wainwright, Easthampton,
Mass, "A years Of age, and Mary Grlfllu,
slightly iDjured; David Ricketts,, age 81,
OF Chicago, head injured NJ. Donoghan,
address unknown, thigh broken; Mark
Allen, address not given, hand smashed;
William Labor, Queens county, Ireland,
age Go; thigh dlslocated. Patrick Burk,
County Mayo Ireland, age As, foot and
(brother OF Jane Robinson in iist OF killed);
compound fracture OF arm. John Burk
was IN the compartment which was flooded
with water aud received bad shock. He
is q consumptive and Is In bad way. His
address is not given. rne first loid Of
steerage passengers from the Celtic was
landed at Castle Garden this morning. 200
in all. The steerage passenger list OF the
Celtic includes 765 passengers.
Tom Egan, an Intelligent young Irish
man Just over, was an intermediate passen-
ger on the Celtic. He was standing on the
bridge Of the Csltic when the Britannia
nrst came IN sight through the dense fog.
He said to reporter: "rhe Bdtannic was
running at full speed and the Ueltic very
slow. When first seen the Britannia was
heading to the starboard OF the Celtic, and,
without changing course, would have
scraped the starboard side. The Celtic sig
nailed and began to back water. The sig
nal / understood to direct giving way to
the starboard. In doing this the Britannia
turned across the Celtic's how. At first 1
thought she would clear US, she was going
so fast, but moment later IL was apparent
there would be q collision. just before
striking the Celtic vcered to the right a
| little and struck back of the center OF the
Britannia. An awful screaming OF the
women on board OF the Britannia followed,
| and men Joined in the noise. There W $
| not SO much excitement on the Celtic. TIE
captain Of the Britannia called out that the
boat was sinking"
Several other steerage passengers ON the
| Celtic were spoken to, and all said that the
| Britannia was on the starboard eide Of the
| Celtic when first aeen, and would have
| cleared II she had given way TO the port
side. The Britannia has not yet come up
the bay. Mr.. j. B. Ismay, general agent Of
the White Star line, was on the Britaunic
| this morning.
| Various estimates Of the steerage passen-
| ger list Of the Britannia were made at the
Office Of the line. The figures range be-
tween 100 and 240 persons. No official list
was at the Office, and the statement was
made that the list is not made out on out
going steamers until within two days. sail
Of the other side. 1t is difficult to see how
the statement of the missing can be made
under the circumstances. 1t was stated at
the Office that the captains Of the two
steams' ips had made no statement. The
reports will be In writing and will be ua-
doubtedly lengthy documents. The Office
Of the White Star line was crowded all the
MOI ming with friends Of the passengers on
the Britannia and Celtic, making anx-
ious inquiries. The majority OF the
sengers. Very little information was OBJ
tainable. The crowd gradually dwindled
away during the morning.
The passengers from the Celtic, who
landed at Castle Garden, do not seem to be
any the worse for their experience. They
were jolly and laughing, aud not at all af-
fected by the scenes they had passed
through.
The Celtic was towed to her dock
from the lower bay to-day. The officers
and crew were very reticent aud uucommu-
nicative, having received orders from Capt
irving, who Immediately left to enter al
the custom house, to haye nothing to say
to the reporters.
| "Why are the officers SO close-mouthed,' p
he was asked.
"Because you journalists are prone tc
tell thousand times more than Is told
| you," was the reply.
"Was there panic amongthe passengers
and crew Of the Celtic"
mo, SIR They were just as quiet aud
manageable as you could wish. was be.
low at the time of the collision. There
felt the shock on the Celtic because VIZ
were going full speed astern, mind"
At this point the officer left, refusing tc
be interviewed further, and the reporter
turned his attention to some Of the pas
sepgers.
Angel Bennell, of Jersey City, second
cabin passenger on the Celtic, corroboratet
the above story as to the shock to the Gel
tic having been comparatively slight.
Mrs. Jane Bradshaw, of Fall River, whit
had taken steerage passage on the Britain
mic "for pleasure trip to England" as sh,
expressed 1t, was one OF the first to b.
transferred to the Celtic. She said I"
was standing on the deck when the Celti
struck u.s.. felt that 1t was SO near that
could reach out my hand and touch 1t, ant
felt the breeze that 1t brought with It.
could not move, but resigned myself t.
death, and the next moment was lying OF
the deck, buried under a mass OF cordage
The ship was cut into as though 1t was 81
much cheese and the dayits broken like 81
many sticks Of sugar candy. i was unhurt
but near me were the headless trunk of th
| Rnl, 81 fba Ial In
OF man. ! was released and hurried to
boat. There were about half dozen mel
In 1t, the rest being sailors aud stolers ant
taken to the Celtic. / shan't take tina
pleasure trip to England, or ever try h
cross the ocean again. have had enougl
of it.n
A number OF steerage passengers com
| planned Of preference being shown .tht
cabin passengers by the officers Of th
Britannia when the boats were resorted to
and claimed that their lives were Of a
much value to them as were the lives o
the cabin passengers.
The damage to the Celtic, which coult
not definitely be ascertained In the fog o
yesterday, proves to be quite serious. He
bow s stove In for about distance o
eight feet from the stem and forced over b
the starboard, leaving an opening extend
ing below the water line into which team
OF horses might be easily drawn.
Capt. Irving was found at the office o
the White Star line, and requested to Civ,
his story of the collision. He said:
~ have nothing to tell the press, MI
lsmay, the agent OF the line, has my otiicia
report, as well as that OF Capt. Perry, o
the Britanni', and he can give you sue
information as he desires concerning them
lpresume they will differ In material re
spects, and it will require judicial min
to determine Just what is or was the exac
state OF affairs | would not be right q
fair to Capt.. Perry or myself to tell m.
story to the press"
"Was there any panic on board the CsltiC
| cat tainpp